Illuminating means for the keyhole of door locks



Dec. 22, 1964 L. SKOKUT 3,162,374

ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR THE KEYHOLE OF DOOR LOCKS Filed Nov. 24, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .1.

'0 a I I I i I INV EN TOR.

400/5 SEQ/K07,

4 7'TOE/VEYS.

Dec. 22, 1964 L. SKOKUT 3,162,374

ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR THE KEYHOLE 0F DOOR LOCKS Filed Nov. 24, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 /74 6 PIC-F. 5. 76. 6. 94 m2 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,374 ILLUll/HNATING lViEANS FOR THE KEYHOLE01F DOOR LOCKS Louis Skokut, R0. Box 424, Monongahela, Pa. Filed Nov.24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,628 Claims. (Cl. 240-213) This invention pertainsto illuminating means, and more specifically, the instant inventionrelates to means for illuminating the entrance to a key-operated lock.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide means forilluminating the keyhole of a door, and the invention is morespecifically directed to the provision of means for lighting the keyholeof the door lock of an automotive vehicle, but is not intended to belimited to this specific concept in which environment the presentinvention is described and illustrated.

Car owners have long been plagued with the problem of locating theentrance of a car door look at night without the assistance ofilluminating means which may, occasionally, be carried on the person ofthe operator. Such means usually comprise matches or a flashlight. Theseare seldom capable of providing satisfactory service, as matches willblow out in the presence of a moderate wind, and the use of a flashlightincreases the bulk of the dress of the user through distortion, as wellas requiring frequent constant checking as to the condition of thebatteries and the serviceability of the light or lights which areprovided within conventional flashlights. The obvious disadvantages ofthe above-referred to means for illuminating the keyhole of a door lock,as well as other awkward and illsuited substitute means foraccomplishing this desired object are obviated through the provision ofthe device described below.

To overcome the disadvantages and the hereditary problems attendant uponthe locking and unlocking of the door of an automotive vehicle, thisinvention is directed to the provision of the permanent installation ofilluminating means for the keyhole of the locking mechanism of a door ofan automotive vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide illuminating means forthe keyhole of a car door which is incorporated, as an integral part,with the door latch and unlatching mechanism therefor.

A further object of this invention is to provide means of the typegenerally referred to supra, which is a component element of the pushbutton operable means for effecting the unlatching of the door of aconventional automotive vehicle. I

It is still another object of this invention to provide means forilluminating the keyhole of an automotive vehicle door together withmeans installed on the interior and exterior sides'of the door forenergizing the illuminating means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a push buttoncontrol apparatus for the latching and unlatching of vehicle doors, anilluminating device for the keyhole locking mechanism therefor which isnot easily broken during the actuation thereof nor which can be renderedinoperable through shocks imparted thereto through the normal operationof the vehicle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a light on the doorof an automotive vehicle which may be energized to provide illuminationto enable the operator of an automotive vehicle to find the proper doorkey from other keys carried on his key ring.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automobiledoor-mounted light to serve as a danger signal when it is necessary topark the automotive vehicle on the side of a road during breakdowns orrepairs.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of a door-mounted illuminating device which is energized whenthe car door is open to serve as a warning to approaching vehicles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a door-mountedelectric light so constructed as to provide illumination on the groundimmediately adjacent to the vehicle, whereby accumulations of snow, mud,and water may be avoided when the occupant of the vehicle is alightingtherefrom.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more evident from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an automotive vehicleequipped with push button door-actuating and illuminating meansconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 2 beingtaken substantially on the vertical plane of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-sectional view of the lighting assembly,FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 3-3of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of theinvention, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane ofline 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail, medial, cross-sectional view of the pushbutton illuminating means for the keyhole of a door lock;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view illustrating themeans employed for detachably connecting an electric light with atransparent push button door lock operating shell;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail, transverse cross-sectional view, FIGURE6 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged exploded side elevational view, partly brokenaway, illustrating the position of the push button shell retaining meanswhen rendered inactive for the purpose of removing and replacing theshell when servicing the illuminating means; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 8 beingtaken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 8-8 of FIGURE 4,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10designates an automotive vehicle of conventional construction having adoor 12 of the usual structure. Mounted on the exterior side of the door12 is a conventional door-operating handle 14 having extendingtherethrough combined push button door latch-actuating means and keyholeilluminating means 16 constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention.

The door 12 includes an exterior side wall 18 on which the handle 14 ismounted, a gasket or seal 19 being interposed therebetween. The handle14 has, integrally formed therewith, a laterally-projecting hollowcylindrical casing 20 which extends inwardly through the side wall 18through an aperture 22 formed therein. The casing 29 is integral with aboss 24 disposed on the exterior side of the side wall 18, the boss 24being apertured at 26 to serve a function to be described.

The inner end of the casing 20 is provided with a frictionally-retainedcap 28 comprising a discoidal end wall 30 from which projects acontinuous peripheral flange 32 (see FIGURE 5), the latter havinglocking pins 34 formed in diametrically-opposed portions thereof (seeFIGURES 3 and 5), the pins being adapted to engage and be receivedwithin correspondingly located openings 36 formed in the exterior side'of the casing 20 adjacent the inner end thereof.

The discoidal end Wall 30 is centrally apertured as at 38, and extendingtherethrough for reciprocation therein is a plunger rod 40' having anend extending into the casing 20 and fixedly connected as at 42centrally of the end Wall 44 of a holow cylindrical housing 46 having aside wall 48. The housing 46 is mounted for reciprocation within thecasing 210and has a tongue 50 project'- 1 ing laterally away from thehousing 46 adjacent the inner end thereof, see FIGURES 2 and 6, thetongue 50 being slidably received within an internally-formed,axiallyextending groove -2 out in the casing 20. The tongue 50 andgroove 52 cooperate to provide means for preventing axial rotation ofthe housing 46 relative to the casing 20 whereby a functionto bedescribed will be achieved.

The casing 20 and housing 46 are provided with normally alignedtransversely-extending openings 54, Starespectively, see FIGURES 3 and5, which'are aligned with a third opening 58 that extends transverselythrough the jamb 60. The openings 54, 56 and 58 are provided to receivetherethrough the blade 62 of a screwdriver 64 when assembling orservicing the illuminating means. A cylindrical washer 66 formed ofelectrical insulating material abuts against the inner side of thediscoidal end.

.ment elements 128,130 which The construction is such .(see FIGURES 5and 7) as to permit ,a slight and loose movement of the flange 110between the head 120 and the collar 122. The other end of the screw 118is threaded through-the opening 116 and receives thereon a nut 124 thatbears against the remotely-disposed side of the flange 112. Theaforesaid other end of the screw 118 is peened as at 126 topreventdisengagement of the nut 124 therefrom.

From the foregoing it is clear that as the screw 118 istightened, theouter or free ends of the levers 102, 104 will pivot away from eachother, and the converse is true when the screw 118' is loosened.

'Spaced substantially at '90 degree intervals from the journals 94, 96are a pair ofoutwardly-projecting abutserve a function to be described:v

Reference numeral 132 connotes an elongated substantially hollow,cylindrical push button shell formed of a transparent plastic, or ofother suitable similar materials,

the push button shell including a side wall 134'closed at its outer endby the end wall 136. The upper semicircular half ofthe'side wall 134 iscolored, preferably "red, to reduce light glare andthe other or openinner end thereof is thickened .to form an internally-extending wall 44and the same are formed with aligned trans- The aforementioned one endreleasably receives; therein the metal base 78 of a conventionalelectric light 80 -with the locking pin 82 engaging in the slot 76. The

center post 84 is engaged by a tab 85 carried on a washer '86- formed ofelectrical insulating'material', and the washer and tab are reciprocablewithin the side wall 74. As is clearly seen'inv the drawings, one end ofa helicoidal spring 88 under compression abuts the washer 86, while -theother end thereof engages the inner cylindrical end wall 90 so that thewasher 86 and itstab 85 are constantly urged for movement toward thebase 78. The end wall 90 is centrally apertured'at 92,. and one end ofan insulated wire is extended therethrough'and through the helicoidal.spring 98 for connection with the tab 85. The other end of the wireextends through the openings 68, 70.

On diametrically-opposed sides. of 'the cylindrical side wall 74 aredi'sposeda pair of outwardly-projecting journails 94, 96 in which aremounted pivot pins 98-, 100, respectively, with the opposed ends thereofprojectingl'aterally beyond the remotely-disposed sides of' their reendsthereof' I The inner 'ends of the lever-S102, 104 are taperedin 7 widthand are bent toward each other at 106,1108,'and V terminate in offsetflanges 110,112, respectively. The

flange has a smooth opening 114 extending therethrough, while the flange112 has a threadedv opening 116' extending transversely therethrough. Toserve. a function to be described, the other ends of the levers 102, 104are formed with outwardly-turned, arcuately-shaped locking heads. orshoulders 103, 105, respectively.

circumferential shoulder 138. At diametrically-opposed sides of the,push button shell 132 the open end thereof :is formed with notches: 140,only one of which is illustrated. As is seen inthe several figures, thepush button shell 132 is telescopically received within the outer end ofthe housing 46, and is slidable therein until the notches receive 'andengage against the abutment elements 128, 130 with the colored portionof the push button shell 132 disposed uppermost. If desired, an O-ringseal 142 may bedisposed within the-boss 24 at the outer end ofthe'housin'g46 to surround proximate portions of the push button shell132; As is clearly shown in the several figure'ssofithe drawings, thebeads 103, 105 are adapted to normally engage over the shoulder 138 whenthe free ends of the :lever s102, 104 are moved away from :eachother toreleasably connect the push'button shell 132 with the housing 46.Loosening the screw 118 will'force the freeends' of the levers 102,104tomove toward each other and escape the shoulder 138 whereby the pushbutton shell 132niay'be removed from'the housing 46 to effectreplacement of the light 80 or other minor secured, as at 139, to theside Wall 48..

From the assembly describedabove it should: now be --clear thatwith theshallfI32-telescopedwithin the housing '46 and abutting. theabutmenfmeansIZS,-130which are rigid with the housing A6,.further'inward movement of the housing 46 together with the shell 132' causesthe same to move as a' unit and slidewi'thin the casing 20, beingactuating the plunger 40.:

guided by the tong ue 50 and groove 52 and thereby The socket 72 isgrounded. by a wire 144' which also f ex tends through the openings 68,-70, and .thewire 94 connects with onefside' of a microswitch'designated,in

'generah'byireference numeral 146. The other side of the microswitch 146connects through wire 148 withithe can battery or other source ofcurrent. The microswitch 1461's of the single-pole, single-throwtype andis "operable 'by means ofjth'ejpush button 150 constantly biased, byconventional means, for lateral movement away from lone side 'of the,casing for the; microswitch 146.

Suitableinstansi' (not showny mount the switch 146 on the inner surfaceof the side wall 18,;pr0ximate the Reference numeral 118 denotes athreaded screw having a head "120, the screw 118-being axially alignedwith flange 110.5 A collar 122 is mounted on the screw 118.

in spaced relation relative to the head 120 and isjuxtaposed withrespectto the other side of the flange 110.

casing 20; 70

Reference'nurneral 152 designates; in generaLa wiping arm for thebuttonv150, the arm 152 being pivotally connected on 'a screw or 'Tbolt 154(see FIGURE 3) and extends througha spacericollar 156 secured tothejinner side of the wall 18. The screw or bolt "154' terminates anext'eriorly-disposed handle 157i laterally spaced from the side wall 18.The arm 152 depends from the screw or bolt 154, and an edge thereof isformed with an inwardly-extending V-shaped notch 158 (see FIGURE 4)adjacent its lower end, the notch being adapted to receive thecam-shaped end 160 of a lever 162 when the arm 152 is swung to itsdotted-line position shown in FIGURE 4. When so moved, the arm 152 wipesand closes the push button 150 of the switch 146, thereby establishing acircuit to the electric light 80. The lever 162 is fixedly connected tothe barrel 164 of a conventional door-locking mechanism 166 in such amanner that the turning of the lever 162 in either clockwise orcounterclockwise direction will force the arm 152 to move in acounterclockwise direction from its dotted-line position of FIG- URE 4,to the full-line position shown therein, and in so moving, release thebutton 150 whereby the circuit to the electric light 80 is broken.

The wiping arm 152 is connected via a rod 168 with a lug 170 which ismounted for rotation on a shaft 172 (see FIGURE 4) extendingtransversely of the car door 12 and on which is also mounted a handle174. As is seen in FIGURE 8, the shaft 172 extends through the innerpanel 176 of the door 12 and through the trim 178 therefor. A pick-upnut 180 is mounted on the shaft 172 and normally bears against the'innerside of the panel 176, and a helicoidal spring 182 surrounds the shaft172 and is interposed between the outer side of the panel 176 and thetrim 178 in order to take up play. It is thus seen that with the lever162 in its normal horizontal position, the arm 152 may be actuated byeither of the handles 157, 174 in order to move across the button 150 oraway therefrom, whereby the switch 146 is opened and closed to energizethe light 80.

lnterposed between the end wall 30 of the cap 28 and the end wall 44 ofthe cylindrical housing 46 is a helicoidal spring 184 under compressionwhich surrounds the plunger rod 40. The spring 184 constantly tends tourge the housing 46 for movement outwardly of the casing 20. The plungerrod 40 is adapted to engage against a turned flange 186 of a bell-cranklever 188 of a door latch mechanism indicated, in general, by thereference numeral 190. The door latch mechanism forms no part of theinstant invention, and is shown, in detail, in the patent to Robert M.Fox, No. 2,989,333, United States patent, filed September 23, 1957, andissued on June 20, 1961. Briefly describing the door-latching mechanism,it is seen that the bell-crank lever 188 is mounted for pivotal movementon the stud 192.

From the foregoing description it should now be clear that an electric.light 80 located over the lock 166 is energized whenever one of thehandles 157, 174 is turned to cause the arm 152 to wipe across thebutton 150, and that the electric circuit to the light is de-energizedthrough the key mechanism turning the lever 162 to cause the arm 152 tomove into its full-line position shown in FIG- URE 4.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail,.it is to be understood that the same is offered merely by Way ofexample, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Illuminating means for the keyhole of a door lock, said means being acomponent element of a push button type of door-actuating means andcomprising a casing fixedly secured within said door, a housing mountedfor reciprocation in said casing, a rod connected to said housing andreciprocable through said casing, door latch actuating means engageableby said rod to effect the unlatching of said door, electricalilluminating means disposed within said housing and reciprocabletherewith, an electric circuit including said illuminating means and asource of current, a manually-operable control switch for said circuit,and means on opposite sides of said door to effect actuation of saidswitch.

2. A push button door latch lock-actuating mechanism comprising a casingextending transversely of said door, a housing mounted for reciprocationwithin said casing including a rod reciprocable through said casing,door latch-actuating means engageable by said rod to effect theunlatching of said door, said housing having an electric light socketdisposed therein to releasably receive said light, a pair of leverspivotally mounted on said socket, a push button shell formed oftransparent material and telescoped within said housing, said shellenclosing said light, and means on one of the ends of said leversoperable to cause the other ends thereof to move away from each other tofrictionally contact said shell and retain the same within said housing.

3. Illuminating means for the keyhole of an automobile door lockcomprising, in combination, an automobile door handle mounted on theexterior side of said door, said handle having a cylindrical casingextending transversely through said door, a substantially hollowcylindrical housing disposed for reciprocation in said casing, asubstantially cylindrical transparent door lock-actuated push buttonshell mounted for reciprocation in said casing and having an end thereofengaging said casing to effect reciprocation thereof, a rod attached tosaid housing and reciprocable through said casing, door latch-actuatingmeans engageable by said rod to effect unlatching of said door, anelectric light mounted in said housing reciprocating therewith andextending into said shell, an electric circuit connecting said lightwith a source of current, and switch means interposed in said circuit tocontrol energization of said light.

4. Illuminating means for the keyhole of an automobile door lockcomprising, in combination, an automobile door, a door handle mounted onthe exterior side of said door, said handle having a cylindrical casingextending transversely through said door, a substantially hollowcylindrical door lock-actuating housing disposed for reciprocationwithin said casing, a substantially cylindrical transparent doorlock-actuating push button shell mounted for reciprocation in saidhousing and having one end thereof engaging said housing, an integralshoulder formed on said one end of said shell, an electric light socketdisposed within said housing, a pair of diametricallyopposed levers,means pivotally mounting said levers on said socket, each of said levershaving a bead formed thereon to releasably engage said shoulder wherebysaid shell is retained in engagement with said housing, a lightreleasably connected in said socket and extending into said shell, anelectric circuit including said light and a source of current, a switchdisposed in said circuit, and manually-operable means disposed onopposite sides of said door to effect operation of said switch.

5. Illuminating means for the keyhole of an automobile door lockcomprising, in combination, an automobile door, a door handle, saidhandle having an integrally formed, cylindrical casing projectinglaterally therefrom and transversely of said door, a substantiallyhollow cylindrical housing mounted for reciprocation in said casing,resilient means interposed between said casing and said housingconstantly biasing said housing for movement toward the exterior side ofsaid door, means extending from said housing and through said casing toactuate door-latching means, said door-actuating means being operableagainst the tension of said resilient means, an

electric light socket disposed in said housing, a pair ofarcuately-shaped levers pivotally connected intermediate their ends onsaid socket on diametrically-opposed sides thereof, means extendingthrough an adjacent pair of ends of said levers to move the other pairof ends of said levers toward and away from each other, a transparentpush button shell mounted for reciprocation within said casing andhaving an end thereof engaging against said housing to effect operationthereof, an electric light disposed in said socket and extending intosaid shell, a normally open electric switch mounted on said door, saidswitch having button-operating means, an electric circuit including saidswitch, said light and a source of current, an'elo'ngated V armpivotally connected at onesof its ends on' said door, said switch buttonbeing disposed in the path of the movemovement of said arm, said handlesbeing' selectively operable to cause energization of said circuitfromwthe interior or exterior of said car door. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS} Ladewig 287 -119X Bidwell 240-25 Bergman 240-2 X Greenlees 240 2'.13 t Koehier 240-2.l3Dreese u 240 2.13 Boyd 2'40-2.13

Priestnian et a1. 292336.3

NORTON ANSH'ER, Primary Examiner.

5. ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR THE KEYHOLE OF AN AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCKCOMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN AUTOMOBILE DOOR, A DOOR HANDLE, SAIDHANDLE HAVING AN INTEGRALLY FORMED, CYLINDRICAL CASING PROJECTINGLATERALLY THEREFROM AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID DOOR, A SUBSTANTIALLYHOLLOW CYLINDRICAL HOUSING MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION IN SAID CASING,RESILIENT MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID HOUSINGCONSTANTLY BIASING SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD THE EXTERIOR SIDE OFSAID DOOR, MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING AND THROUGH SAID CASING TOACTUATE DOOR-LATCHING MEANS, SAID DOOR-ACTUATING MEANS BEING OPERABLEAGAINST THE TENSION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS, AN ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKETDISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING, A PAIR OF ARCUATELY-SHAPED LEVERS PIVOTALLYCONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS ON SAID SOCKET ONDIAMETRICALLY-OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF, MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH AN ADJACENTPAIR OF ENDS OF SAID LEVERS TO MOVE THE OTHER PAIR OF ENDS OF SAIDLEVERS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A TRANSPARENT PUSH BUTTON SHELLMOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION WITHIN SAID CASING AND HAVING AN END THEREOFENGAGING AGAINST SAID HOUSING TO EFFECT OPERATION THEREOF, AN ELECTRICLIGHT DISPOSED IN SAID SOCKET AND EXTENDING INTO SAID SHELL, A NORMALLYOPEN ELECTRIC SWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID DOOR, SAID SWITCH HAVINGBUTTON-OPERATING MEANS, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID SWITCH, SAIDLIGHT AND A SOURCE OF CURRENT, AN ELONGATED ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ATONE OF ITS ENDS ON SAID DOOR, SAID SWITCH BUTTON BEING DISPOSED IN THEPATH OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER END OF SAID ARM TO BE ACTUATED BY THELATTER, SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION INCLUDING AN ARM-OPERATING HANDLE ON THEEXTERIOR SIDE OF SAID DOOR, A SECOND HANDLE MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENTON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF SAID DOOR, A ROD EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ARM ANDSAID SECOND HANDLE AND PIVOTAL THEREWITH TO EFFECT THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENTOF SAID ARM, SAID HANDLES BEING SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO CAUSEENERGIZATION OF SAID CIRCUIT FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF SAID CARDOOR.